Cheteshwar Pujara unexpectedly announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Sunday. The 37-year-old called time on his career after having not made any appearance for the Indian team simce the World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2023 against Australia. He played a total of 103 Tests and 5 ODIs for the national team, but was never given a chance to play in T20Is.
Many former and present-day cricketers paid tribute to Pujara through social media posts after the batter announced his retirement. His wife, Puja Pabari also penned a heartfelt note for him and shared that she was glad the batter always gave it his all and played the game in his own 'calm' way.
"Be in the present as the present is the present of the supreme presence’ - a guiding principle of the Bhagvad Gita which is something you have been living by for quite sometime now, and hope it continues to guide you in this next phase!" Puja wrote in an Instagram post.
"As you bid goodbye to your first love, passion and the sport you love so much, I am glad you always gave it your all and played the game in your own calm and dignified way!" she added.
Pujara got married to Puja on February 13, 2013 and welcomed their daughter Aditi on February 23, 2018. The duo were introduced through family friends and felt a connection after they had a long conversation with each other.
"From knowing nothing about cricket to loving you and the sport through your eyes - your journey has been a true education in life’s lessons for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have gone through the highs and lows of your career together!" Puja stated.
"I will miss cheering you on the field, following the unshakeable routines, and at times maybe also the anxiousness before a match/series. For all the missed celebrations and adjustments made in order to prioritise cricket, lets make up for it now," she concluded.
Pujara's sensational record in Test cricket
Meanwhile, Pujara may not have been able to contribute much for India when it comes to white-ball cricket, however he was a highly important figure in the Men in Blue's Test set-up for little over a decade. The 37-year-old has played several memorable Test knocks for the national team both on home and foreign soil. With a total of 7195 runs under his name in the format, Pujara has cemented his legacy in Indian cricket folklore.